Eric Wright sits out, now waits to learn his fate

ATLANTA -- When the Bucs went through the trouble of activating cornerback Eric Wright from the suspended list on Saturday night, it suggested he might play after all.

But Wright ultimately was left inactive today, the Bucs opting to sit him though he was eligible to play after serving his four-game NFL suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.

The Bucs didn’t attribute the decision to anything contract-related, but it can’t be ignored that Wright’s suspension enables the Bucs to void the guarantees in his $37 million contract. Even Wright acknowledged the possibility.

“That’s something we have to visit later, in the next few of weeks or so,” Wright said.

When the Bucs departed Tampa for Atlanta on Saturday, Wright still was unclear about whether he’d play. He said he performed well in practice last week and that his Achilles injury has healed.

“I came ready to play,” Wright said. “Bt that wasn’t my role today. I tried to help out on the sideline and support my teammates any way I could. That was my role today. I obviously wanted to play, but I’m glad we at least got the win.”

If the Bucs are considering voiding Wright’s deal, they perhaps considered the fact that the 2011 collective bargaining agreement enables players to collect up to $1.5 million under the injury-protection benefit if they’re hurt in a game that prevents them from playing in the following season.

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